Cognac Lover's Escape: Private Shore Excursion & Distillery Tour

FAQ

• What should I expect on a Shore Excursion with Ophorus?

  As a specialized France Tour Operator and tours & activities provider, we organize worry free shore excursions departing from all cruise ports in France. Our professional team of travel advisors, drivers and guides speak fluent English, are experts in the destination and all our shore excursions take place on board premium vehicles.
  
  All our shore excursions in France include pick up and drop off at your ship, once you have exited the Cruise Port terminal. We will always indicate where your driver/guide will be waiting for you. Our itineraries and programs are customized to suit your needs and never include side visits or stops that you had not confirmed. We guarantee your return to ship on time and have a very flexible cancellation policy. All tours can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the tour.
  
  All our shore excursions are for small groups only, we do not cater for groups larger than 20 persons. Typically, we use premium minivans that will take up to 7 or 8 persons maximum. If your group is larger, then we will provide a small minibus but no larger than 20 passenger seats.

• What can we expect on this private Cognac Tour from Bordeaux?

  On our Cognac private tour you can expect to be in good hands with one of our English speaking local guide that is an expert in Cognac. Ask all the questions you always wanted to as you drive from Bordeaux to Cognac. If you are a novice and booked the tour as an introduction to Cognac, then listen to your guide as he explains during the driving time the origins of Cognac, how it is distilled and what to expect during the tasting sessions. All this is done safely thanks to our on-board P/A system that allows everyone to hear even if you are seated at the back.
  
  Then, depending on the Cognac Houses you have booked, we will take you directly there where you will follow the tours & tastings. If you have not made any choices we will include the visit & tastings in two Cognac Houses for you. For lunch you will have some free time in the historical town of Cognac. Don't hesitate to ask your guide for some recommendations.

• What type of vehicles are used during your Bordeaux private tours?

  Our company uses only premium cars & minivans that are recent, comfortable and fully equipped including individual A/C, shaded windows and large leg space.

• Who conducts your private tours from Bordeaux?

  We only employ accredited and licensed tour guides that are also the drivers for all tours that need visits to be conducted by certified guides. Good examples are: the visit of museums, guided walking tours in cities, visit of historical monuments and so on.
  
  In some regions, where wine tours prevail (Bordeaux, Alsace, Burgundy) the tours are conducted by professional local guides or sommeliers, that are experts in Wines. On this particular tour, we will include the services of one of our guides, expert in Cognac.

• Is it possible to visit or choose some famous Cognac Houses on this Tour from Bordeaux?

  Yes, absolutely. You will be able to choose one of our selected visits in the some of the most prestigious Cognac Houses during your booking process. From tours that will introduce you to Cognac to high-end luxury tastings, we have included visits to Hennessy, Martell, Meukow, Rémy Martin and Camus. If the Cognac House you wish to visit is not on this list, just let us know and our team of travel advisors will contact them directly to find out if it is possible to organize a visit for you and your party.

• Are the Cognac Houses Tours private on this shore excursion from Bordeaux?

  This all depends on the tour that you have chosen. For the introductory tours, these are usually grouped tours but in general the numbers remain low as the Cognac Houses privatize larger group tours. In that case you might follow the tour with other guests. 
  
  On the more exclusive tours, the visits and the tastings will be for you and your party only.

• Is lunch included on this Shore Excursion from Bordeaux?

  No, we never include lunch on our private tours. If you would like to include lunch then just let us know and our team of travel designers will be happy to select a local restaurant for you and make the necessary arrangements. It is also possible for you to ask your guide for suggestions in the morning, on the day of the tour.

• Should I bring something specific for this Shore Excursion?

  Always check the weather before you follow one of our shore excursions. By doing so, adapt your clothing to the local weather conditions. On one of our shore excursions we will not require you to bring your passport but it is always better to have some type of ID just in case. We strongly recommend that you bring with you a photocopy of any ID. Good walking shoes are always recommended in France as you never know on what type of grounds you might be walking.

• Where does the name Cognac come from?

  Cognac is the name of a small French town located in southwestern France. Here, local winemakers have been distilling wines since the 16th century. The spirit (Brandy) was then simply referred to by the name of the town where it was produced - Cognac.

• What is Cognac made of?

  In order to qualify as cognac, the brandy must be produced using white grapes from one of six different terroirs in the Cognac region of Southwest France. The juice must be double-distilled in a copper pot still and aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of two years.

• What is difference between Cognac and Brandy?

  In the same sense that Scotch is a type of whisky, cognac is a specific type of brandy that’s made in accordance with strict regulations.